iOS vs Android – Which platform to develop first?

Which platform you should develop on first is a common issue for many. While widely controversial and, in many cases, situational, here are a few things we think are good to keep in mind when deciding which OS to develop for first.

Demographics and Revenue
iOS users tend to be younger, smarter and have a higher income, meaning they are more likely to spend money for your app. iOS users tend to spend nearly four times as much on apps compared to Android users.

On the other hand, Android currently reigns supreme when it comes to worldwide OS market share, having over 80% of smartphone operating systems running it vs Apple’s iOS 14% in Q2 of 2015.

It may seem that Android app development is the way to go, but you should also take into account most users are older and have a lower income, which, consequently, means they spend less money on apps on Android. Android revenue also comes mostly in the form of ad-generated revenue.

Release Cycles
New Android versions are released frequently, however most users choose not to upgrade to the newest version of the OS or can’t. Only about 23% of Android users are currently running on version 5.0 of Lollipop or higher, whereas nearly 40% of users are still running version 4.4 KitKat and the others running even older OS versions.

Comparatively, over half of iOS user have already upgraded to the latest version on iOS, iOS 9, across all devices.

This allows for iOS app development to be a bit easier and you can put most of your focus on development for the latest version of iOS.

Android App Development Speed vs iOS App Development Speed
Developing an Android app can take 2 – 3 times longer than it takes to develop an iOS app. This is because you need to make sure your app works across multiple Android OS versions due to Android users using many different supported versions of the OS.

iOS development can go by a lot faster thanks to the OS’s infrequent updates that allow you to separate your update by up to 3 – 4 months at a time.

You should also remember that the complexity of the app you’re making effects the time it takes to release the app on either platform.

Cost
Because of the time it takes to develop an app on Android, the cost of development goes up accordingly. This can be a downfall because of the slow, and generally lower, revenue being made.

In Conclusion
It’s not a clear-cut choice deciding which OS you should develop for first. Each OS has its own advantages and disadvantages and the choice can ultimately depend on your situation. A start-up company with limited capital may be inclined to develop for iOS as it’s cheaper to develop for and gets your app out faster, whereas a company looking to target a lower-income demographic would want to develop for Android. Whatever OS you choose to develop for, we here at The Bold Circle can help develop your app with our design and development services for either OS.

Connect with us to receive more information for your next development project.